Opening directly onto the Tagus with three sides framed by long yellow Pombaline arcades, Praça do Comércio is Lisbon's grandest civic square and the symbolic gateway to the city since the 16th century. Until the catastrophic 1755 earthquake it was known as Terreiro do Paço — the palace courtyard of the Ribeira Royal Palace, then the residence of Portuguese kings and centre of an empire stretching from Brazil to Macau.
After the earthquake destroyed almost everything south of the castle, the Marquis of Pombal rebuilt the square as a vast open space backed by a uniform grid of arcaded buildings housing government ministries — a piece of Enlightenment urbanism unprecedented in 18th-century Europe. At its centre stands the bronze equestrian statue of King José I sculpted by Machado de Castro in 1775; to the north rises the triumphal Arco da Rua Augusta (completed only in 1873) with a small rooftop viewpoint open to visitors.
Today the square is the doorstep of central Lisbon: tram 15 to Belém leaves from the eastern arcade, the ferries to Cacilhas depart from the river, and a constellation of cafés, the Lisboa Story Centre, the ViniPortugal wine-tasting room and the small Beer Museum cluster under the arcades. Descend the Cais das Colunas marble stairs at sunset to dip your hand in the Tagus the way travellers did in the Age of Discoveries.
Highlights
- Lisbon's grandest civic square, opening directly onto the Tagus
- Equestrian bronze statue of King José I by Machado de Castro (1775)
- Arco da Rua Augusta — triumphal arch with paid rooftop viewpoint
- Cais das Colunas — marble stairs descending into the Tagus
- Free, open day and night, surrounded by Pombaline yellow arcades
History & context
The square's earlier name, Terreiro do Paço, recalled the Ribeira Royal Palace — built here in 1500 by King Manuel I to be closer to the river and the spice trade. For 250 years it was the heart of the Portuguese empire, until the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami of 1 November 1755 destroyed both palace and city. The Marquis of Pombal rebuilt the square on a heroic Enlightenment plan, opening it deliberately to the river. On 1 February 1908, King Carlos I and his heir Crown Prince Luís Filipe were assassinated here as their carriage crossed the square — the prelude to the fall of the Portuguese monarchy two years later.
🗓️ Best time to visit
Late afternoon for golden Pombaline arcades; sunrise for the square almost empty
⏱️ Duration
30–60 minutes (longer if you climb the Rua Augusta Arch and visit the arcades)
♿ Accessibility
Fully accessible — flat paved surface; the Rua Augusta Arch has a lift to the rooftop viewpoint
Frequently asked questions
Is the square free to visit?
Yes — the square itself is a free public space, open 24 hours a day. Only the Rua Augusta Arch rooftop and a few museums inside the arcades charge entry.
Can I climb the Rua Augusta Arch?
Yes — a small entrance fee (around €4) gives access to the rooftop viewpoint over the square, the Baixa grid and the Tagus.
How do I get there?
Metro Blue Line to Terreiro do Paço station, or a 5-minute walk down through the Baixa from Rossio. Tram 15 to Belém also starts here.
What's the best photo spot?
From the Cais das Colunas, looking back at the square with the arch framing the statue — best in late afternoon when the yellow arcades glow.